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FROM   THE   LIBRARY  OF 
REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,   D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM   TO 
THE   LIBRARY   OF 


/&$\  OF  PBWg? 


/, 


FEB 


THE 

FIERY  CROSS 


I  1933 


& 


. 


BY 

JOHN  OXENHAM 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  VISION  SPLENDID,"  "ALL'S  WELL," 
"BEES  IN  AMBER,"  ETC. 


NEW  YORK 
GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,  1918, 
BY  GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


PRINTED  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 


TO 

ALL 

WHO  FEEL  THE  VITAL  NEED 

FOR 

A  RETURN  TO  GOD 

AND 

A  HIGHER  SPIRITUAL  LIFE 

THROUGHOUT  THE  WORLD 

THIS  LITTLE  BOOK 

IS  DEDICATED 

IN  PRAYERFUL  HOPE 


FOREWORD 


FOREWORD 

Things  spiritual — the  Master  Things — the 
only  things  which  in  the  end  really  count,  have  of 
late  years  been  sadly  outpaced  by  things  material. 
The  servants  have  outrun  their  Master.  We  are 
paying  for  it  in  suffering  such  as  the  world  has 
never  known. 

Life,  the  world  over,  forging  swiftly  ahead  in 
all  material  matters,  has  been  losing  sight  of  those 
higher  claims  of  the  All-Giver,  without  due  recog- 
nition of  which  all  other  gain  is  as  dust  of  the  bal- 
ances. 

To  use  a  trite  but  expressive  phrase, — "First 
things  first"  has  not  of  late  years  been  the  rule  of 
life — but  instead,  second  things,  third  things, 
tenth  things — ay,  and  still  worse  things  which  had 
no  right  whatever  even  to  exist. 

More  has  been  done  to  improve  Life's  bodily 
conditions  than  ever  before,  though  still  there  was 
much  that  was  left  undone.  But  tending  the  body 
and  neglecting  the  soul  is  but  decking  a  dying  man 
with  flowers, — pandering  to  the  servant,  neglect- 
ing the  Master. 

A  complete  re-adjustment  of  values  and  of  vi- 
[vii] 


FOREWORD 


sion  is  needed — and  is  needed  NOW — AT 
ONCE.  How  is  it  to  come?  Who  will  bring  it 
about? 

In  olden  times,  when  danger  threatened,  the 
Scottish  clansmen  sped  the  call  to  arms  over  hill 
and  moor  by  the  Fiery  Cross, — two  charred  sticks 
dipped  in  blood.  And  every  man  answered  that 
call  instantly  and  to  the  full,  for  his  life  and  all 
he  held  dear  were  at  stake. 

We  have  seen  Life  ravished  by  fire  and 
drenched  with  blood.  Do  we  need  a  still  fierier 
cross  than  this  fierce  red  flame  of  War? 

If  the  world  answers  The  Call,  it  shall  be  well 
with  it.  If  it  does  not  .  .  .  Then  God  have 
mercy  upon  us,  for  we  shall  deserve  to  the  full  all 
that  will  most  assuredly  befall  us. 

God  never  lacks  men  when  His  time  is  full- 
ripe.  If  this  little  book  quickens  one  soul  to  readi- 
ness for  The  Call  when  it  comes  it  will  not  have 
failed  of  its  object.    May  it  serve  His  purpose ! 

John  Oxenham 


[viii] 


CONTENTS 


CONTENTS 

Foreword  ..... 
A  Little  Prayer  .... 
The  Fiery  Cross  .... 
To   Whom    Shall   the    World    Hence 

forth  Belong?  .... 
The  Prayer  Immortal  . 
Great  and  Greater 
A   Little   Te    Deum    for   Those    Who 

Have  Lost         .... 
Fidei  Defensor     .... 
The  One  Way  Out — and  Up 
In  Every  Man      .... 
Two  Angels.         .... 
Ceiled  Houses      .... 
Here,  There,  and  Everywhere     . 
The  Red  Gate      .... 
Just  Over  the  Hill  and  Up  Along 
The  Little  House  of  Bread 
A  Prayer  for  Enlargement 
Ex  Tenebris         .... 
The  Padre's  Story 
Is  It  Well  with  the  Lad?  . 
Per  Ardura  ad  Astra  . 

[ix] 


PAGE 

vii 
xiv 

15 

,  l7 

21 

23 
25 
26 
28 

29 
30 
34 
36 
37 
39 

4i 

42 

45 
48 

5o 


CONTENTS 


A  Little  Prayer  for  the  Man  in  the 

Air    .... 
Over  the  Parapet 
Cock  Your  Bonnets!    . 
The  Sacrament  of  Food 
The  Sacrament  of  Fire 
The  Sacrament  of  Work 
The  Sacrament  of  Sleep 
The  Sacrament  of  Love 
For  You  and  Me 
Heroes'  Wives 

The  Word  That  Was  Not  Said 
A  Little  Te  Deum  for  Womanhood 
The  Secret  Place 
My  Guest     . 
The  Vision   . 
Grace  Robes 
The  High  Call     . 
Neighbours  . 
The  Days 

Father-Motherhood 
The  Key 

His  Dwelling-Place 
I— GOD— AM!       . 

DlMPSEY    ON   THE    MOOR 

Why?     . 
Natalicia 
Life — and  Life 


PAGE 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Live  Christ!          .....       108 

Break  Down  the  Walls 

no 

"To  Men  of  Good-Will — Peace! 

»> 

112 

Where  Christ  Is  Born  Again 

114 

Fair  Raiment 

•          115 

Demos  Is  in  the  Saddle 

Il6 

Return! 

117 

Love  Casts  Out  Fear  . 

I20 

Only  a  Stretcher-Bearer 

122 

Giver  of  All  Good 

124 

Cain!     .... 

125 

My  Treasure 

126 

Salvage         . 

128 

So  Little  and  So  Much 

129 

Some  Little  Whiles 

I30 

Life  and  Death    . 

131 

Benediction 

132 

[xi] 


a  little  draper 

Where'er  thou  be, 
On  land  or  sea, 
Or  in  the  air, 
This  little  prayer 
I  pray  for  thee, — 
God  keep  thee  ever, 
Day  and  night, — 
Face  to  the  light, — 
Thine  armour  bright,— 
Thy  'scutcheon  white, — 
That  no  despight 
Thine  honour  smite  ! — 
With  infinite 
Sweet  oversight, 
God  keep  thee  ever, 
Heart's  delight! — 
And  guard  thee  whole, 
Sweet  body,  soul, 
And  spirit  high ; 
That,  live  or  die, 
Thou  glorify 
His  Majesty; 
And  ever  be, 
Within  His  sight, 
His  true  and  upright, 
Sweet  and  stainless, 
Pure  and  sinless, 
Perfect  Knight! 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 

The  wayward  world  has  nailed  itself 

On  its  own  cross  of  woe; 

With  its  own  hands  it  hewed  the  wood, 

It  dyed  the  rood  with  its  own  blood, 

And  then,  with  vicious  blow, 

Drove  home  the  nails  that  it  had  cast, 

Through  its  own  flesh,  and  made  them 

fast; 
It  dug  the  pit  below. 

But  every  cross  new  meaning  holds, 

Since  such  sweet  virtue  came 

Of  Calvary;  and  though  mankind 

Still  wanders  graceless,  deaf  and  blind 

To  his  own  bitter  shame, 

Yet,  by  God's  grace,  he  shall  arise 

From  this  dread  cross  of  sacrifice 

To  set  all  Life  aflame. 

For — 

The  Fiery  Cross  is  speeding  forth 
To  the  purging  of  men's  lives. 
[15] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  FIERY  CROSS  (continued) 

Christ  bears  it  through  the  troubled  earth, 

To  quicken  Life  to  nobler  birth, 

To  break  the  ancient  gyves ; 

His  love  flames  in  the  Fiery  Cross, 

Sorting  the  pure  gold  from  the  dross, 

And  from  their  sin  men  shrives. 

Speed  on,  speed  on,  the  Fiery  Cross 
For  the  kindling  of  men's  souls! 
The  Powers  of  111  have  had  their  day, 
They  broke  Life  on  the  rough  red  way, 
They  levied  bitter  tolls. 
But  now  God's  torch  is  blazing  bright, 
Wrong  lies  beneath  the  heel  of  Right-. 
And  men  seek  nobler  goals. 


[16] 


TIIH  FIERY  CKOSS 


TO  WHOM  SHALL  THE  WORLD  HENCE- 
FORTH  BELONG? 

To  whom  shall  the  world  henceforth  belong , 
And  who  shall  go  up  and  possess  it? 

To  the  Great-Hearts — the  Strong 

Who  will  suffer  no  wrong, 

And  where  they  find  evil  redress  it. 

—To  the  Men  of  Bold  Sight, 
Whose  souls,  seised  of  Light, 
Found  a  work  to  be  done  and  have  done  it. 

— To  the  Valiant  who  fought 

For  a  soul-lifting  thought, 

Saw  the  fight  to  be  won  and  have  won  it. 

— To  the  Men  of  Great  Mind 

Set  on  lifting  their  kind, 

Who,  regardless  of  danger,  will  do  it. 

— To  the  Men  of  Goodwill, 
Who  would  cure  all  Life's  ill, 
And  whose  passion  for  peace  will  ensue  it. 
[17] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


TO    WHOM    SHALL    THE    WORLD    HENCE- 
FORTH  BELONG?    (continued) 

— To  the  Men  who  will  bear 

Their  full  share  of  Life's  care, 

And  will  rest  not  till  wrongs  be  all  righted. 

— To  the  Stalwarts  who  toil 

'Mid  the  seas  of  turmoil, 

Till  the  Haven  of  Safety  be  sighted. 

— To  the  Men  of  Good  Fame 
Who  everything  claim — 
This  world  and  the  next — in  their  Mas- 
ter's great  name; — i 

— To  these  shall  the  world  henceforth  be- 
long, 

And  they  shall  go  up  and  possess  it; 

Overmuch,  overlong,  has  the  world  suf- 
fered wrong, 

We  are  here  by  God's  help  to  redress  it. 


[18] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  PRAYER  IMMORTAL 

"Thy  King do m  come, 
Thy  Will  be  doner 

Never  since  Time  began 

Has  mortal  man 

Had  sorer  need  to  pray  that  prayer  immortal. 

For  ne'er  before  has  Death's  grim  door 

Its  gaping  portal  flung  so  wide, 

Nor  man  so  gallantly  defied 

His  menace,  and  so  vastly  died; 

Never  has  life  so  racked  and  tortured  been, 

Nor  earth  such  deadly  exigencies  seen. 

And  that  full  prayer  of  prayers 

In  its  divine  simplicities 

Fills  all  the  heights  and  depths 

Of  our  necessities. 

Granted  in  full  it  would  bring  Earth 

To  Heaven,  and  unto  Life — new  birth. 

So — to  your  knees — 
And,  with  your  heart  and  soul,  pray  God 
That  wars  may  cease, 
[19] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  PRAYER  IMMORTAL  (continued) 

And  earth,  by  His  good  will, 
Through  these  rough  ways,  find  peace  !- 

"Thy  Kingdom  come! 
And,  as  in  heaven, 
On  earth  Thy  Will  be  done!'7 


[20] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


GREAT  AND  GREATER 

Within  the  great  a  greater  still  I  see, — 

Within  this  grim  world-strife 

The  struggle  of  a  menaced  Life 

With  godless  tyranny, — 

The  travail  of  a  new-born  Life 

For  its  epiphany. 

So,  in  this  strife  I  see  the  greater  strife,- 
Man's  soul  at  grips  with  111, 
And  presage  of  a  nobler  life 
Close-wedded  to  Thy  Will; — 
The  coming  of  a  sweeter  life 
Which  nought  on  earth  shall  kill. 

Within  this  great  there  still  a  greater  is, 
And  he  sets  all  things  free, — 
Death,  the  Emancipator  is, 
And,  through  this  death-strife,  we 
Shall  win  the  life  that  greater  is, 
And  Life's  security. 

Not  on  the  flaming  fields  across  the  seas 
Alone,  this  fight  for  God's  supremacies 
[21] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


GREAT  AND  GREATER  (continued) 

But  in  the  hearts  of  men  throughout  the 

world 
His  banner  is  at  last  unfurled, 
And  from  their  thrones  the  Powers  of  III, 
By  the  whole  world's  united  will, 
Are  being  hurled. 


[22] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


A  LITTLE  TE  DEUM  FOR  THOSE  WHO 
HAVE  LOST 

For  manly  courage  under  grievous  loss; 
For   faith    of   woman   bowed   beneath    her 

cross; 
For    Hope    that    bravely    glowed    'neath 

stormy  skies; 
For  Love  that  suffered  untold  agonies 
With  saintly  fortitude,  and,  tempest-tost 
And  sore  bestead,  yet  never  lost 
Her  hold  on  God,  and  His  high  promises; 
For  noble  deeds  as  simple  duty  done, 
In  their  Christlikeness  known  to  God  alone; 
For  high  heroic  bearing  under  stress; 
For  hearts  that  no  ill-fortune  could  depress; 
For  every  helpful  word  and  kindly  deed 
That  found  occasion  in  its  brother's  need; 
For  that   Brute   Force   is    from   its   saddle 

hurled, 
And  that  the  sword  no  more  can  rule  the 

world; 
For  growth  of  wisdom  in  this  mire  of  war, 
[23] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


LITTLE    TE    DEUM    FOR    THOSE    WHO 
HAVE   LOST    (continued) 

Which   leaves  Thee   more   than   ever   Con- 
queror; 
For  that  the  world  has  found  its  soul  again, 
And  set  its  heel  upon  this  curse  of  Cain; 
For  that  Thy  Justice  is  again  restored, 
And  War  as  arbiter  henceforth  abhorred; — 
For  that  the  dear  lives  were  not  given  in 

vain, — 
Despite  the  anguish  of  our  loss  and  pain, 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 


[24] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


FIDEI  DEFENSOR 

Gone! — in  the  unutterable  splendour 

Of  your  immortal  youth! — 

Gone — unto  Him  who  made,  and  making,  gave 

you 
Passion  for  Truth; — 
Made  you  heart-bold  to  brave  the  wroth 
Of  this  world's  evil; — 
Made  you  soul-strong  to  face  the  Devil, 
And  to  suffer  ruth, — 
Yea — and  in  very  sooth,  that  final  ruth 
Which  yet  shall  give  you  back 
Your  here-lost  youth. 

Gone ! — unto  Him  wrho,  making,  made  of  you, 

In  all  the  glowing  splendour  of  your  youth, 

One  more  high-souled  defender  of  His  Truth. 

To  your  dear  memory  we  render 

Deepest  soul-homage; 

And  unto  Him — unceasing  praise! 

To  Him — of  all  men's  souls 

The  Great  All-Wise  Dispenser, — 

Unceasing  praise,  for  you, — 

Our  Fidei  Defensor! 

[25] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  ONE  WAY  OUT— AND  UP 

One  thing,  and  one  thing  only  shall  avail 

To  lift  the  earth  from  out  this  sore  travail 

By  folly  wrought,  and  selfishness,  and  sin; — 

One  thing  alone — and  that  within 

Our  compassing  if  but  we  will. 

It  rests  with  us,  and  good,  or  ill, 

Shall  be  our  lot  as  we  ourselves  destine. 

"Choose    ye    this    day    whom    ye    will 
serve!" 

God — or  those  other  gods  of  your  own  choos- 
ing, 

Whom  erst  ye  served  to  your  souls'  bitter  los- 
ing. 

Mammon  or  God?  ...  ye  cannot  serve  them 
both. 

That  way  ye  tried,  forsaking  your  God-troth; 

And  now  ...  ye  bear  the  ruth. 

God  waits, — has  waited  long — still  waits; 

Each  dawn  His  promise  He  reiterates, 

And  down  the  long  dim  corridors  of  Time 

His  word  reverberates, — 
[2G] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  ONE  WAY  OUT— AND  UP  (continued) 

"Choose  ye  this  day!" 

From  our  own  wilful  way 

He  calls  us  back, 

And  promises  again  this  day 

That  no  soul  based  on  Him  shall  suffer  lack. 


Here  the  Ways  part, — 
That  climbing  road 
Leads  up  to  God, 
This  easier  way 
Leads  down  to  death, 
And  ruin,  and  decay. 

"Choose  ye  this  day!"- 
And  choose  ye  carefully, 
For  as  ye  now  shall  say 
So  shall  it  with  you  be 
In  that  Great  Day. 


[27] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


IN  EVERY  MAN 

In  every  soul  of  all  mankind 
Somewhat  of  Christ  I  find, 

Somewhat  of  Christ — and  thee; 
For  in  each  one  there  surely  dwells 
That  something  which  most  surely  spells 

Life's  immortality. 

Beclouded  oft,  and  oft  obscure, 
In  peril  oft  of  forfeiture, 
And  lost  in  many  a  plicature, 

Yet  in  each  one  there  is 
Such  hope  of  soul-recoveries, 
Such  grace  of  soul-discoveries, 
That  in  each  life  the  seed  there  lies 

Of  high  immortal  destinies. 

And  so,  for  love  of  Christ — and  thee, 
I  will  not  cease  to  seek  and  find, 

In  all  mankind, 
That  hope  of  immortality 
Which  dwells  so  sacramentally 

In  Christ — and  thee. 
[28] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


TWO  ANGELS 

Two  angels  walk  the  earth  to-day, 
Each  bearing  in  his  hand 
The  symbol  of  his  ministry, 
And  does  his  Lord's  command. 

One  bears  a  mighty  two-edged  sword, 
And  wounds  Life  to  the  death; 
The  other  bears  Christ's  holy  chrism, 
And  the  wounded  comforteth. 

So,  side  by  side,  they  walk  the  earth 

For  the  purging  of  men's  souls; 

One  gives,  through  Death,  Life's  nobler 

birth, 
The  other  Life  consoles. 


[29] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


CEILED  HOUSES 

A  Message  for  these  Times 

( Two  thousand  five  hundred  years  ago  Haggai 
delivered  this  message.  It  has  been  on  the  way 
ever  since,  and  is  as  much  needed  to-day  as  it  was 
then.  Conditions  alter.  Facts  and  results  unfor- 
tunately remain  the  same.  The  world  must  hear 
its  load  until  it  learns  its  lesson.) 

"What  are  these  ceiled  houses?" 
Asked  the  Prophet  coldly, — 
His  eyes  like  smouldering  fires, 
And  the  people  answered  boldly, — 
"These  be  our  houses,  Man  of  God, 
The  houses  where  we  dwell." 
"And  these  half-builded  walls?" 
And  they  answered,  timorous-boldly, — 
"That  is  the  Lord's  house,  waiting  safer  times 
To  finish  building.  .  .  . 
We  have  had  so  much  to  do  .  .  . 
Our  flocks  to  tend,  our  crops  to  rear, 
Our  wives  and  little  ones  to  guard  and  cherish, 

[30] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


CEILED  HOUSES    (continued) 

Our  cities  to  repair, — 

And  all  o'erburdened  with  the  care 

Of  foes  against  us  everywhere." 

Then  flamed  the  God  within  him, — 

"Is  this  a  time  to  hap  yourselves  in  comfort, 

And  the  Lord's  house  still  unbuilt? 

Thus  saith  the  Lord, — 

Consider  now  your  ways ! — 

Hard  you  have  toiled  and  builded — for  your- 
selves, 

Each  man  of  you  has  toiled  and  builded — for 
himself; 

Early  and  late  you  toiled   and  builded — for 
yourselves, 

And  yet  you  have  not  prospered. 

Much    have    you    sown — and   yet    have    little 
reaped, 

Much  have  you  eaten — but  were  hungry  still, 

Much  drunk — yet  were  not  filled, 

Much  clothing  worn — but  yet  were  never  warm, 

And  that  you  earned  you  put  in  bags  with  holes. 

You  looked  for  much,  and  little  came  of  it. — 

And  why? — 

Because  of  this  Mine  House  left  desolate! 

Hard  have  you  toiled — but  not  for  Me; — 
[31] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


CEILED   HOUSES    (continued) 

Much  have  you  cared — but  not  for  Me; 
And  so — because  you  left  Me  out  of  it, 
Lo,  I  have  blown  upon  your  work 
And  brought  it  all  to  nought. 
Consider  now  your  ways!" 

Then  did  that  people  take  God's  word  to  heart 

And  turned  again  to  Him; 

And  He  abode  with  them  and  prospered  them. 

And  unto  us  He  says, — 

Ay,  you  have  built  to  Me  most  wondrously, 

But  yet  your  hearts  you  turned  away  from  Me, 

And  followed  other  gods. 

And  I  have  prospered  you  most  bounteously, 

But  yet  your  hearts  you  turned  away  from  Me, 

And  followed  other  gods. 

Wealth,    Pleasure,    Power,    Ease, — and   baser 

things, — 
These  were  your  gods. 
And  so  I  blew  upon  your  work 
And  brought  it  low. 
For  I,  God,  am  a  jealous  God; 
Yea,  I  am  very  jealous  for  your  good. 
[32] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


CEILED   HOUSES    (continued) 

Ye  cannot  serve  these  other  gods  and  Me; 
Consider  now  your  ways ! 
And  choose  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve, 
Your  self-made  gods  or  Me  1 


[33] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


HERE,  THERE,  AND  EVERYWHERE 

Lilac  and  laburnum  blooming, 

Full  of  Spring's  immortal  vigour, — 

Big  guns  booming;  Hell  shells  spuming; 

Life  still  gripped  with  Death's  fell  rigour  ;- 
Man  proposes, — God  disposes; 
Yet  our  hope  in  Him  reposes 
Who  in  war-time  still  makes  roses. 

Bridal  grace  of  pear  and  apple, 
Summer  snows  from  orchard  trees, — 

Sons  of  God  in  deathly  grapple, 

Life  in  direst  agonies; — 

Man  proposes, — God  disposes; 
Yet  our  hope  in  Him  reposes 
Who  in  war-time  still  makes  roses. 

Chestnuts'  sweet  up-pointing  spires, 
On  one  tree  a  thousand  churches, — 

Crater-holes  and  hell's  hot  fires; 
Flaming  hate  God's  fair  face  smirches; — 
[34] 


THE  FIKRY  CROSS 


HERE,  THERE,  AND  EVERYWHERE  (continued) 

Man  proposes, — God  disposes; 
Yet  our  hope  in  Him  reposes 
Jflw  in  war-time  still  makes  roses. 

Forget-me-not  and  pansy  sweet, 
Nestling  all  along  the  border, — 

Death's  raw  bones  the  red  drums  beat, 
God's  fair  world  is  in  disorder; — 

Man  proposes, — God  disposes; 
Yet  our  hope  in  Him  reposes 
Who  in  war-time  still  makes  roses. 

Dandelion, — mayflower, — daisy, 
Gemming  every  emerald  meadow, — 

Man's  devices,  crude  and  crazy, 
Brought  Life  to  this  ambuscado, — 

Man  proposes, — God  disposes; 
Yet  our  hope  in  Him  reposes 
Who  in  war-time  still  makes  roses. 


[35] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  RED  GATE 

Some,  by  the  dread  Red  Gate, 

Have  found  their  souls; 

All,  soon  or  late, 

Have  reached  their  goals; 

All  have  found  Life,  though  Fate 

To  some  gave  death, — which  yet 

Is  but  the  Opened  Gate 

To  Life  Emancipate. 


[36] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


JUST  OVER  THE  HILL  AND  UP  ALONG 

Just  over  the  hill,  by  the  climbing  way, 
Is  a  place  where  all  good  travellers  stay, — 
Just  over  the  hill  and  up  along. 

At  the  side  of  the  road  is  a  garden  gate, 
Which  is  always  open,  early  and  late, — 
Just  over  the  hill  and  up  along. 

And  inside  the  gate  is  a  House  of  Rest, 
Where  the  Host  will  give  you  his  very  best, — 
Just  over  the  hill  and  up  along. 

He   will  meet  you   and   greet  you   with   out- 
stretched hand, 

And,    whatever   your   tongue,   he   will   under- 
stand,— 

Just  over  the  hill  and  up  along. 

You  will  find  in  the  house  a  table  spread 
With  a  chalice  of  wine  and  Broken  Bread, — 
Just  over  the  hill  and  up  along. 
[37] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


JUST  OVER  THE  HILL  AND  UP  ALONG  (con- 
tinued) 

He  will  tell  while  you  eat,  and  when  you  have 

fed 
He  will  put  you  to  sleep  in  a  restful  bed, — 
Just  over  the  hill  and  up  along. 

You  will  sleep  full  sweet;  you  will  dream  good 

dreams, 
You   will   wake  to  the   joy  of  the   Morning 

Beams, — 
And  then  you  will  go  in  the  strength  of  the 

strong, 
And  press  up  and  on  with  a  glad  good  song, 

Right  over  the  hill — and  up  along. 


[38] 


T1IK   FIKKY  CKOSS 


THE  LITTLE  HOUSE  OF  BREAD 

O,  little  Home  of  Peace  and  Perfect  Calm, — 
O,  little,  still,  white,  sacramental  place, 
Filled  with  the  mystic  effluence  of  His  grace, 
Which  makes  of  thee  a  healing  and  a  balm; — 

Happed  in  a  hollow  of  the  great  moor's  breast, 
Of  undrest  stone,  with  red-heart  roses  drest, 
Haven  of  rest  for  every  soul  sore  pressed, 
Thine  own  sweet  soul  of  quietness  possessed: — 

God  surely  loves  thee,  little  House  of  Prayer, 
Nor  ever  fails  the  soul  that  seeks  Him  there; 
No  matter  what  his  sore  predicament, 
No  matter  what  the  burden  of  his  pain, 
No  troubled  soul  has  ever  healing  sought 
But  here  he  found  divine  medicament, — 
Losing  himself  has  won  the  greater  gain, 
And,  by  his  giving,  nobler  treasure  bought. 

Here  in  the  silence  you  confess  your  sin, 
And  holy  ministrants,  unheard,  unseen, 
Beneath  the  red  lamp  softly  whisper  you 
New  hope, — no  matter  what  the  past  has  been. 
[39] 


THE  FIERY  CRC  SS 


THE  LITTLE  HOUSE  OF  BREAD  (continued) 

Here  some  have  knelt  before  departing  hence 
For  the  Red  Fronts,  and  have  upbuilded  been 
With  new-born  Faith's  most  lofty  confide: 
To  face  the  High  Call  of  the  Unforeseen : — 
In  weakness  some,  and  some  in  penitence, 
But  all  in  highest,  holiest  reverence. 

Here,  in  this  altar  book,  are  shrined  the  names 
Of  those  True  Knights  God-pledged  to  purity. 
Unceasing  prayer  their  troth  to  honour  claims. 
And  from  high  heaven  their  souls'  security. 
God  surely  loves  thee,  little  House  of  Bread, 
For  here  the  seeking  soul  to  Him  is  led, 
And  on  His  Living  Bread 

The  hungry  soul  is  fed. 


[40] 


THE  FIERY  CROSl 


A  PRAYER  FOR  ENLARGEMENT 

Shrive  me  of  all  my  littleness  and  sin ! 
Open  your  great  heart  wide ! 
Open  it  wide  and  take  me 
For  the  sake  of  Christ  who  died! 

Was  I  grown  small  and  strait? — 
Then  shalt  thou  make  me  wide. 
Through  the  love  of  Christ  who  die 
Thou — thou  shalt  make  me  great. 


[«] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


EX  TENEBRIS 

The  Lay  of  the  Knight  who  rose  again 

Take  away  my  rags! 
Take  away  my  sin ! 
Strip  me  all  bare 
Of  that  I  did  wear, — 
The  foul  rags,  the  base  rags, 
The  rude  and  the  mean! 
Strip  me,  yea,  strip  me 
Right  down  to  the  skin ! 
Strip  me  all  bare 
Of  that  I  have  been! 
Then  wash  me  in  water, 
In  fair  running  water, 
Wash  me  without, 
And  wash  me  within, 
In  fair  running  water, 
In  fresh  running  water, 
Wash  me,  ah  wash  me, 
And  make  me  all  clean! 
— Clean  of  the  soilure 
And  clean  of  the  sin, 
[42] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


EX  TENEBRIS    (continued) 

— Clean  of  the  soul-crushing 

Sense  of  defilure, 

— Clean  of  the  old  self 

And  clean  of  the  sin! 

In  fair  running  water, 

In  fresh  running  water, 

In  sun-running  water, 

All  sweet  and  all  pure, 

Wash  me,  ah  wash  me, 

And  I  shall  be  clean ! 

And  then — ah  then 
Clothe  me  again 
In  the  garments  of  Light, 
In  the  robes  of  Thy  ruth, — 
In  Purity,  Truth, — 
In  raiment  all  white 
And  whiter  than  light, 
— In  the  raiment  ensanguine 
That  outshines  the  Light, 
— In  garments  washed  clean 
In  the  Grace  Infinite  ! 
Then  vest  me  with  armour, 
And  name  me  Thy  Knight, 
And  gird  me  with  Justice, 
[43] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


EX  TENEBRIS    (continued) 

And  arm  me  with  Right! 

And  there  in  the  battle 

Of  souls  I  will  fight, 

With  the  passionate  zeal 

Of  a  heart  all  contrite. 

And  I'll  win  Thee  fair  Kingdoms, 

Many  Kingdoms,  great  Kingdoms,- 

Sweet  Kingdoms  of  Light, 

I  will  win  from  the  Night, 

To  the  Glory  of  God 

And  my  Lord's  high  delight. 


[44] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  PADRE'S  STORY 

He  came  to  me  in  my  small  tent, 
Quite  late  one  night, — 
The  night  before  the  red-hot  Vimy  fight, 
And  his  concern  was  evident. 

"Padre,"  he  said, 
Fey-eyed  and  anxiously, — 
"To-morrow  we  go  in. 
And  I'm  a  coward,  I'm  afraid. 
Yes,  I'm  afraid  to  die. 
I've  lived  so  light  and  carelessly,  you  see, 
And  now — perhaps  Death  waits  for  me 
Just  over  there. 

This  time  to-morrow  I  may  lie  there  dead. 
Can  you  say  anything  to  buck  me  up 
And  make  a  man  of  me? 
Tell  me  about  things.    Tell  me  all; — 
Of  death  and  after.    If  you  can, 
Fit  me  to  meet  the  call 
And  play  the  man!" 
I  told  him  as  I  would  a  child, — 
Of  God, — and  Christ — the  Father's  love,- 
[45] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  PADRE'S  STORY   (continued) 

The  wondrous  Father-Motherhood 
That  longs  for  all  men's  good, — 
Of  the  great  joys  above — the  bliss 
Of  that  new  life  for  those 
Who  strive  their  best  in  this; — 
The  simplest,  highest  things, — 
To  him,  the  greatest. 
And  he  listened  eagerly, 
Fey-eyed  and  anxiously. 

And  then  we  knelt. 

I  said  a  little  prayer, 

Commending  him  to  God; 

And  as  we  knelt,  I  felt 

God  with  us  there,  and  new  life  in  the  boy. 

"Padre,"  he  said,  when  I  had  done, 

"The  fear  has  gone. 

I  see  it  all. 

Now  I  can  face  the  call, 

And  if  it's  death,  my  dying  may  atone 

For  some  of  those  things  I'd  best  not  have 

done. 
God  bless  you,  sir,  you've  made  a  man 
Of  me,  and  if  I  die  I'll  prove  me  one. 
[46] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  PADRE'S  STORY   (continued) 

From  all  you  say  this  doesn't  end  it  all, 
And  now, 

Through  God  and  you,  I'm  strong  to  meet 
the  Call." 

In  the  dim  dawn  they  went, — 

And  some  came  back.  .  .  . 

Him  everywhere  I  sought, 

But  found  him  not, 

Nor  any  who  could  tell 

What  him  befell. 

But  this  I  know, — 

Whate'er  his  fate, 

He  did  his  duty, — 

Died,  if  he  died, 

In  the  knowledge  of  God's  beauty  .  .  . 

And  the  rest  can  wait. 


[47] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


IS  IT  WELL  WITH  THE  LAD? 

"Is  it  well  with  the  ladfy 

•  ••••• 

It  is  well ! 

Yea,  it — is — well ! — 

But  for  us  who  are  left, 

Heart-hungry,  bruised  of  soul,  bereft, — 

Our  branching  hope  at  one  stroke  cleft 

From  off  the  parent  tree, — . 

We  hardly  bear  our  discontent, 

Or  come  to  full  acknowledgment 

Of  Love  we  deem  omnipotent 

Which  yet  can  suffer  patiently 

Such  things  to  be. 

Yea,  and  although, 

Deep  in  our  hidden  souls,  we  know 

That  with  him  all  is  well, — 

That  nothing  we  could  e'er  have  done  for 

him 
Can  equal  this  which   Death  has  won  for 

him, — 
That  nothing  earth  could  e'er  have  given  to 

him 

[48] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


IS  IT  WELL  WITH  THE  LAD?  (continued) 

Can  come  anigh  the  joys  of  heaven  to  him,- 

Yet  still,  the  mortal  in  us 

Craves  him  mortally; 

And  nought  shall  stay 

That  craving  till,  on  some  bright  day, 

We  too  shall  slip  the  clinging  clay 

And  find  him  there  awaiting  us 

Upon  the  heavenly  way. 


[49] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


PER  ARDUA  AD  ASTRA 

Lift  me,  O  God,  above  myself, — 
Above  my  highest  spheres, 
Above  the  thralling  things  of  sense 
To  clearer  atmospheres. 

Lift  me  above  the  little  things, — 
My  poor  sufficiencies, 
My  perverse  will,  my  lack  of  zeal, 
My  inefficiencies; — 

Above  the  earth-born  need  that  gropes, 
With  foolish  hankerings, 
About  earth's  cumbered  lower  slopes 
For  earthly  garnerings. 

Above  the  vanities  and  cates 
Of  the  Forbidden  Land; — 
Above  the  passions  and  the  hates 
That  flame  there  hand  in  hand. 

Lift  me,  O  God,  above  myself, 
Above  these  lesser  things, 
[60] 


TIIK  FIERY  CROSS 


PER  ARDUA  AD  ASTRA   (continued) 

Above  my  little  gods  of  clay, 
And  all  their  capturings. 

And  grant  my  soul  a  glad  new  birth, 
And  fledge  it  strong  new  wings, 
That  it  may  soar  above  the  earth 
To  nobler  prosperings. 

Lift  me,  O  God,  above  myself, 
That,  in  Thy  time  and  day, 
I  somewhat  grace  Thy  fosterings 
And  climb  Thy  loftier  Way. 


[51] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


A  LITTLE  PRAYER  FOR  THE  MAN  IN 
THE  AIR 

I  never  hear 

The  growling  diapason  of  a  plane 

Up  there, 

The  deep  reverb'rant  humming  of  a  plane 

Up  there, 

But  up  to  God  I  wing  a  little  prayer, 

Begging  His  care 

For  him  who  braves  the  dangers  of  the  air. 

"God  keep  you,  Bird-man,  in  your  plane 
Up  there ! 

Your  wings  upbear,  your  heart  sustain! 
Give  you  good  flight  and  oversight, 
And  bring  you  safe  to  earth  again  1" 

I,  too,  have  hostages  with  fortune  up  above, 
And  what  may  come  to  you  may  come  to 

mine. 
So,   once   again, — "God   speed  you   as  you 

rove! 
Both  you  and  mine  to  His  care  I  consign." 
[52] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


OVER  THE  PARAPET 

Over  the  parapet  and  beyond, — 

No  Man's  Land  and  Bloody  Pond, — 

Over  the  parapet  at  last, 

Death  and  Life  an  equal  cast, — 

Over  the  parapet  we  climb, 

Out  of  the  stinking  mud  and  slime, 

Over — to  life;  over — to  death, — 

Over  and  on  while  we  have  breath. 

We  have  waited  and  waited  for  this  hour, 

Sick  of  having  to  crawl  and  cower, 

And  now  we'll  show  the  Boches  what 

It  means  to  tackle  the  Kiltie  lot. 

Over  we  go ! — if  we  don't  come  back 

It's  because  we've  taken  the  longer  track, 

That  ends  for  all  good  soldier-men 

In  a  better  place,  beyond  our  ken. 

Over  we  go ! — we  have  had  the  Call, — 

We'll  meet  again,  boys,  one  and  all, 

We'll   meet    somewhere    and   we'll  meet 

somewhen, 
We  will  every  one  of  us  meet  again ; 
We  will  all  keep  tryst  in  what  is  beyond 
No  Man's  Land  and  Bloody  Pond. 
[53] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


COCK  YOUR  BONNETS! 

{Messines  was  the  first  fight  the  London  Scot- 
tish, just  out  from  home,  had  been  in, — their  bap- 
tism of  fire,  and  a  very  hot  one.  They  lost  heavily 
but  won  through  with  honour.  My  own  boy  was 
then  training  in  the  2nd  Battalion.  He  came  out 
with  a  draft  to  fill  up  the  gaps  a  little  later.) 

It  was  after  that  black  night 

When  we'd  won  our  first  bit  fight, 

In  the  shadow  of  the  pump-mill  at  Messines, 

That  a  Brass-Head  came  and  prattled 

To  us,  feeling  pretty  rattled 

With  the  things  we'd  done,  and  more  with 

what  we'd  seen ; 
And  he  said, — 

"Boys, — keep  your  bodies  clean! 

Boys, — keep  your  billets  clean! 

Boys, — cock  your  bonnets ! 

And,  for  God's  sake,  smile!" 

And  it  bucked  us  up  tremendous, 
For  the  Boche  had  tried  to  end  us, 
[54] 


TIT K   FIERY  CROSS 


COCK  YOUR   BONNETS!    (continued) 

Though  we'd  given  him  double  dose  for  all 

we  got ; 
And  we'd  gone  through  our  probation, 
And  we'd  saved  a  situation, 
And  the  Big  Pot  put  his  finger  on  the  spot; — 
With  his, — 

"Boys, — keep  your  bodies  clean! 

Boys, — keep  your  billets  clean! 

Boys, — cock  your  bonnets! 

And,  for  God's  sake,  smile!" 

So  we  pass  it  on  to  you  chaps; — 
When  you're  some  fed  up  with  new  scraps, 
Just  remember  what  that  good  old  Brass- 
Head  said. 
You  will  find  it  worth  your  trying, 
Both  while  living  and  when  dying, 
And  you'll  surely  be  the  happier  when  you're 

dead, — 
If  you, — 

Always  keep  your  bodies  clean, 
Always  keep  your  billets  clean, 
Always  cock  your  bonnets, 
And,  for  God's  sake,  smile. 


[55] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  SACRAMENT  OF  FOOD 

Each  meal  should  be  a  sacramental  feast, — 
A  Eucharist  each  breaking  of  the  bread, 
Wherein  we  meet  again  our  Great  High  Priest, 
And  pledge  new  troth  to  our  exalted  Head. 

For  all  we  eat  doth  come  of  sacrifice, — 
Life  out  of  Death, — since  all  we  eat  must  yield 
Life  for  our  living, — and  yet,  nothing  dies, 
But  in  its  giving  finds  its  life  fulfilled. 

The  wheat,  the  plant,  the  beast,  and  man,  all 

give 
Each  of  their  best,  God's  purpose  to  maintain, 
And  all  subserve  the  end  for  which  all  live, 
And  pass, — to  live  more  worthily  again. 

[Note. — This  appeared  in  The  Vision  Splendid,  but  to  keep 
these  sacraments  together  it  is  reprinted  here.] 


[56] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  SACRAMENT  OF  FIRE 

Kneel  always  when  you  light  a  fire ! 
Kneel  reverently,  and  thankful  be 
For  God's  unfailing  charity, 
And  on  the  ascending  flame  inspire 
A  little  prayer,  that  shall  upbear 
The  incense  of  your  thankfulness 
For  this  sweet  grace 
Of  warmth  and  light ! 
For  here  again  is  sacrifice 
For  your  delight. 

Within  the  wood, 
That  lived  a  joyous  life 
Through  sunny  days  and  rainy  days 
And  winter  storms  and  strife; — 
Within  the  peat, 
That  drank  the  sweet, 
The  moorland  sweet 

Of  bracken,  whin,  and  sweet  bell-heather, 
And  knew  the  joy  of  gold  gorse  feather 
Flaming  like  Love  in  wintriest  weather, — 
While  snug  below,  in  sun  and  snow, 
[57] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  SACRAMENT  OF  FIRE  (continued) 

It  heard  the  beat  of  the  padding  feet 

Of  foal  and  dam,  and  ewe  and  lamb, 

And  the  stamp  of  old  bell-wether; — • 

Within  the  coal, 

Where  forests  lie  entombed, — 

Oak,   elm,   and  chestnut,  beech,   and   red 

pine  bole; — 
God  shrined  His  sunshine,  and  enwombed 
For  you  these  stores  of  light  and  heat, 
Your  life-joys  to  complete. 
These  all  have  died  that  you  might  live; 
Yours  now  the  high  prerogative 
To  loose  their  long  captivities, 
And  through  these  new  activities 
A  wider  life  to  give. 

Kneel  always  when  you  light  a  fire ! 

Kneel  reverently, 

And  grateful  be 

For  God's  unfailing  charity! 


[58] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  SACRAMENT  OF  WORK 

Upon  thy  bended  knees,  thank  God  for  work, — 
Work — once   man's   penance,   now   his   high    re- 
ward! 
For  work  to  do,  and  strength  to  do  the  work, 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord ! 

Since  outcast  Adam  toiled  to  make  a  home, 

The  primal  curse  a  blessing  has  become, 

Man  in  his  toil  finds  recompense  for  loss, 

A  workless  world  had  known  nor  Christ  nor  Cross. 

Some  toil  for  love,  and  some  for  simple  greed, 
Some  reap  a  harvest  past  their  utmost  need, 
More,  in  their  less  find  truer  happiness, 
And  all,  in  work,  relief  from  bitterness. 

A  toiler  with  His  hands  was  God's  own  Son; 
Like  His,  -to  Him  be  all  thy  work  well  done. 
None  so  forlorn  as  he  that  hath  no  work, 
None  so  abject  as  he  that  work  doth  shirk. 

Upon  thy  bended  knees,  thank  God  for  work! 
In  workless  days  all  ills  and  evils  lurk. 
For  work  to  do,  and  strength  to  do  the  work, 
We  thank  Thee,  Lord! 
[59] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  SACRAMENT  OF  SLEEP 

Thank  God  for  sleep ! 

And,  when  you  cannot  sleep, 

Still  thank  Him  that  you  live 

To  lie  awake. 

And  pray  Him,  of  His  grace, 

When  He  sees  fit,  sweet  sleep  to  give, 

That  you  may  rise,  with  new-born  eyes, 

To  look  once  more  into  His  shining  face. 

In    sleep, — limbs    all   loose-laxed    and    slipt    the 

chains — 
We  draw  sweet-close  to  Him  from  whom  our 

breath 
Has  life.    In  His  sole  hands  we  leave  the  reins, 
In  fullest  faith  trust  Him  for  life  or  death. 
This  sleep  in  life  close  kinsman  is  to  death; 
And,  as  from  sleep  we  wake  to  greet  the  day, 
So,  too,  from  death  we  shall  with  joy  awake 
To  greet  the  glories  of  the  Great  Essay. 

To  His  beloved  healing  sleep  He  gives, 
And,  unto  all,  awakening  from  sleep. 

[60] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  SACRAMENT  OF  SLEEP   (continued) 

Each  day  is  resurrection, — a  new  birth 

To  nearer  heaven  and  re-created  earth, — 

To  all  Life's  possibilities — of  good 

Or  ill, — with  joys  and  woes  endued, — 

Till  that  last,  shortest  sleep  of  all, 

And  that  first  great  awakening  from  Life's  thrall. 

Thank  God  for  sleep ! 

And,  when  you  cannot  sleep, 

Still  thank  Him  for  the  grace 

That  lets  you  live 

To  feel  the  comfort  of  His  soft  embrace. 


[61] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  SACRAMENT  OF  LOVE 

Love  is  the  sacrament  of  sacraments; 

For  God  is  Love,  and  Love  is  God; 

Who  loves  knows  Him,  and  in  Him  all  the  heights 

And  depths  of  those  high  rapturous  delights 

Which  for  Love's  soul  are  very  soul  of  life, 

And  through  the  troubled  ways, — through  stress 

and  strife, 
Bear  the  soul  upward  to  that  final  goal 
Where   Life   and  Love  make   one   full-rounded 

whole. 

Love  tints  the  grayest  life  with  rose; 
Love  kindles  fires  'mid  winter  snows. 

Love  draws  the  fallen  from  his  sin; 
Love  helps  the  sinner  grace  to  win. 

Love  lifts  the  fringes  of  the  night; 
Love  gifts  the  eyes  of  Faith  with  sight. 

Love  to  all  loveliness  is  kin; 
Love  moulds  all  Life, — without, — within. 

[62] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  SACRAMENT  OF  LOVE    (continued) 

Love  is  the  mightiest  power  on  earth; 
Love  to  Eternal  Hope  gives  birth. 

Love — the  Beginning  and  the  End — 
All  life  and  death  doth  comprehend. 

Love  lived  in  Death  upon  the  Tree; 
Love  lives  again,  for  you  and  me. 

Love  through  eternity  endures, 

For  God  is  Love, 

And  Love  is  God. 

Thank  God  for  Love, — His  first, — then  yours! 


[63] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


FOR  YOU  AND  ME 

Some  man  has  died  out  there  to-day 
For  you  and  mey — 
Died  in  heart-wracking  agony,  maybe, 
For  you  and  me. 
So — of  your  charity 
A  prayer! — 

A  deep,  abounding,  all-sufficing  prayer 
For  all  his  past, — his  present, — and  a  fu- 
ture fair 
For  him  who  died  out  there  to-day, 
For  you  and  me. 

And  if  your  prayer  transmute  itself 

To  some  good  work  for  those  he  left  be- 
hind, 

Their  sense  of  loss,  with  yours  of  gain  en- 
twined, 

Shall  make  life  fairer  for  you  both, 

For  therein  you  shall  find, 

Both  you  and  they,  in  very  truth, 

Riching  of  heart  and  mind. 


[64] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


HEROES'  WIVES 

TO   THE    DEAR    LITTLE    WAR-WlDOWS    ALL    THE 

World  over 

Be  worthy  of  your  noble  dead, 

So  shall  your  hearts  be  comforted! 

They  yielded  all, — their  lives,  and  you, 

At  Duty's  call  to  dare  and  do; 

Brave  thought  of  them  shall  lift  your  lives 

To  heights  befitting  heroes'  wives, 

Like  them  to  answer  Duty's  call 

And  live  the  life  heroical. 

— Just  wedded, — childless, — lonelier  still 
Than  if  you  had  not  known  the  joys 
Of  God's  sweet  sacramental  seal 
Upon  the  union  of  your  choice? — 
— And  on  in  front  a  long  gray  way 
Without  one  single  cheering  ray? — 
Dear  Heart,  your  love  is  nearer  now 
Than  when,  that  day,  with  solemn  vow, 
You  did  yourselves  on  each  bestow, 
And  each  with  each  did  all  endow, 
[65] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


HEROES'  WIVES    (continued) 

For  life  or  death,  for  good  or  ill, 
As  God  should  see  most  suitable. 
Now  he  is  near  you,  night  and  day, 
His  love  shall  tinge  with  rose  the  gray, 
And — gracing  time  with  goodly  deed — 
You  shall  at  last  reap  your  full  meed 
Of  nobler  joy,  and  find  that  pain 
Will  blossom  into  heavenly  gain. 

He  is  not  lost  who  goes  before, 

But,  standing  in  the  Open  Door, 

He    waits    you    there    with    outstretched 

hands, 
Love's  dearest,  best  ambassador. 


[CO] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  WORD  THAT  WAS  NOT  SAID 

{To  those  parents,  the  world  over,  through 
whose  criminal  neglect  of  the  due  and  rightful  in- 
struction of  their  children  in  those  simple  matters 
of  sex  which  so  vitally  affect  their  future  welfare, 
the  moral  and  physical  substance  of  the  race  is  be- 
ing wasted — this  word  of  warning.) 

For  lack  of  that  due  word, — 

You  sent  him  forth  to  face  the  deadly  strife 

Which  men  call  life, 

Unarmed,  unarmoured,  unprepared  for  fight, 

And  yet  expected  him  to  keep  his  'scutcheon 

white! 
Yours  the  reproach  if  he  should  miss  the  way, 
For  you  of  your  full  duty  failed  him  mortally. 

For  lack  of  that  due  word, — 
You  sent  her  out  unwarned  of  the  sore  strait 
That  may  await 

The  trustful  maid  untaught  the  world's  allure. 
You  trusted  Fate  her  safety  to  assure, 
[67] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  WORD  THAT  WAS  NOT  SAID  (continued) 

Nor  took  the  trouble  to  unseal  her  eyes 
To  the  dim  downward  trend  of  life's  high  mys- 
teries. 

For  lack  of  that  due  word, — 

They  two  have  slipped  and  fallen  into  sin. 

They  had  kept  clean 

Had  you  your  duty  done  and  shown  the  truth 

Of  Life's  deep  menace  to  untutored  youth. 

Now  is  the  greater  sin  upon  your  head, 

For  you  it  was  that  left  that  saving  word  unsaid 


[68] 


THE  FIERY  CKOSS 


A    LITTLE    TE    DEUM    FOR    WOMAN- 
HOOD 

We  thank  Thee,  Lord,  for  Thy  sweet  Heart  of 

Grace 
Revealed  in  womanhood  in  these  black  days; 
For  her  high  courage  under  bitter  stress; 
For  her  new  spheres  of  wondrous  usefulness; 
For  her  heroic  fortitude  in  loss; 
For  her  most  patient  bearing  of  her  cross; 
For  her  high  seizure  of  the  times'  dire  needs; 
For  her  sweet  sum  of  self-denying  deeds; 
For  her  self-adaptation  to  the  claims 
Of  these  new  days; — for  the  relinquished  aims 
Which  yet  mature  in  unexpected  guise 
Through  her  success  in  nobler  enterprise; 
For  all  the  Christliness  of  gentle  hands 
Which  soothe  the  passage  of  the  running  sands; 
For  grace  of  heart  and  life  and  winning  face, 
To  young  lives  broken  in  the  fiery  race; 
For  all  her  ministry  to  days  and  nights 
Of  ceaseless  pain  that  gnaws  and  saps  and  blights; 
For  that  high  soul  of  pure  white  womanhood 
Which  lifts  man  towards  the  Father-Motherhood; 

[69] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


A    LITTLE   TE    DEUM    FOR   WOMANHOOD 

(continued) 

For  saintly  lives  whose  days  and  nights  are  prayer 
For  wayfarers  awander  in  life's  snare; 
For  that  White  Fire  of  Love  that  welcomes  all, 
And  turns  with  quick  response  to  every  call; 
For  chivalry  in  woman  as  in  man, 
Whereof  comes  comradeship  Saturnian; 
For  every  widening  of  her  gracious  sphere; 
For  her  true  instinct  and  her  insight  clear; 
For  that  God-given  wisdom  of  the  heart 
That  sees  below  and  takes  the  sinner's  part; 
For  all  that  woman  has  been, — is, — may  be; 
Heart-thanks   and   praise   we    render,    Lord,    to 

Thee; 
For  every  strand  in  that  sweet  golden  cord; 
For  every  note  in  that  sweet  complex  chord; — 

We  thank  Thee,  thank  Thee,  thank  Thee, 
Lord! 


[70] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  SECRET  PLACE 

Each  soul  has  its  own  secret  place, 
Where  none  may  enter  in, 
Save  it  and  God, — to  them  alone 
What  goeth  on  therein  is  known, — 
To  it  and  God  alone. 

And  well  for  it  if  God  be  there, 
And  in  supreme  control; 
For  every  deed  comes  of  a  seed, 
And  lonely  seed  may  evil  breed 
In  any  lonely  soul. 

But  none,  except  of  his  own  will, 
Need  ever  lonely  be; 
If  he  but  quest,  his  Royal  Guest 
Will  quick  provide  him  with  the  best 
Of  all  good  Company. 


[71] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


MY  GUEST 

Within  my  holy  place 

My  Chiefest  One  is  dwelling, 

Not  as  a  passing  guest 

But  of  His  own  houseling. 

O,  miracle  of  grace, 

My  whole  heart's  love  compelling — 

Within  this  tiny  space 

The  Lord  of  All  Good  Life, 

The  Very  Light  of  Life  and  Love 

Is  dwelling! 

And  now  my  happy  tears 

Have  washed  away  my  fears, 

And,  past  all  mortal  telling, 

Within  my  heart  the  tide  of  Love 

To  fullest  flood  is  welling. 

Praise  be  to  Thee ! 
To  Thee  unending  praise, 
For  all  the  glowing  depth  and  height 
Of  these  God-given  days ! 
For  Thy  sweet  grace 
Which  in  this  place 
[72] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


MY  GUEST  (continued) 

Doth  time  and  space  alike  efface, 
And,  merging  faith  in  heavenly  sight, 
Dares,  with  its  inner  mystic  light, 
To  look  upon  Thy  face. 


1731 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION 

One  took  me  up  into  a  lofty  place, 
And  opened  windows  that  my  soul  should  see 
Visions  of  this,  and  that,  touched  by  His  grace — 
Of  that  which  was  .  .  .  and  is  .  .  .  and  yet  may 
be. 

From  the  first  lattice  we  looked  out 

Upon  a  boundless  waste  of  night-black  sea, 

So  vast  and  void  that  my  soul  chilled 

At  its  black  misery. 

That  stark  black  empty  darkness  filled 

Me  with  despair, — no  smallest  sign 

Of  life  was  there, 

No  ray  of  light  to  enlumine 

The  darkness  saturnine. 

Then,  as  I  gazed, — far  off, — 
A  pulse  of  light, — 

A  little  throb  of  life,  as  when  the  dawn 
First  quickens  in  the  womb  of  night, — 
A  tiny  glow,  scarce  visible; 
But,  as  I  watched,  I  saw  it  grow  and  grow; 

[74] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION   (continued) 

And  then, — within  the  glow, — 

A  Cross,  upon  a  low  dark  hill, 

Far-off  and  small,  and  yet  my  soul  did  thrill 

At  sight  of  them;  for  in  that  cross 

Was  Hope  Invincible. 

But,  all  about  it  and  below, 

Surged  that  vast  sea  of  unrelieved  woe, — 

A  grim  wild  welter  of  calamity, 

A  tumbling  grave,  a  ceaseless  misery, 

Which  rolled  insurgent  far  as  eye  could  see 

Thro'  all  the  outer  voids, — 

A  sink  of  bitterness  and  loss, 

Whose  sullen  waves  washed  ever  to  and  fro 

Beneath  the  Cross. 

But,  up  above,  the  Cross  did  grow  and  grow, 

Till  I  could  see  its  pulsing  beams 

Light  with  their  radiant  gleams 

The  nearer  margin  of  the  grim  black  flow. 

Then,  to  my  searching  eyes,  the  flood  disclosed 
Strange  things; — 

Each  drop  in  that  black  tide  had  been  a  man; 
Now,  derelict,  they  lay  beneath  the  ban, 
And  went  to  form  that  sea  demonian. 

[75] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION   (continued) 

Among  those  myriad  hecatombs  of  dead, 

Were  thrones  and  crowns, — and  bodies  of  dead 

kings, 
And  those  they  ruled,  misruled,  betrayed; — 
And  perished  empires,  wasted  and  decayed, — 
And  peoples  long  since  passed, — 
Their   pomps    and    prides, — the    treasures    they 

amassed, 
Their  monuments,  their  temples, — all  become 
No  more  than  spume  upon  that  sea  of  doom, 
Like  outcast  offal  on  a  shore  of  mud, 
Flung  to  the  void  and  harried  by  the  flood. 
And  when  I  turned  in  horror  to  my  Guide, 
His  face  was  sad  as  sadly  He  replied, — 

"The  wrecks  of  Time, — the  wreckage  of 
mankind. 
The  Cross  was  there,  but  man  was  ever 
blind." 

And  still  the  Cross,  above  the  weltering  flow, 
Larger  and  brighter  grew,  and  still  did  grow 
Until  its  head 

Touched  Heaven,  and  its  wide  arms 
Embraced  the  earth.    And  the  soft  glow 
Of  its  pure  radiant  glory  shed 

[76] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION  (continued) 

A  sense  of  blessing,  far  and  wide, 
Across  the  horrors  of  the  grim  black  tide. 

And  ever  brighter  grew  the  Cross,  until 
It  seemed  to  dominate  and  fill 
All  space  with  its  soft  silent  majesty, 
And  all  the  other  worlds  bent  grave  bright  eyes, 
Charged  with  untold  solemnities, 
Upon  its  sweet  supremacy. 
And  all  creation  watched,  with  bated  breath, 
The  Cross  that  grew,  and  growing,  ever  grew 
Still  fairer,  stronger,  and  more  purely  bright, 
Above  that  Sink  of  Death, 
And  sent  its  light 

Wide-searching    through    the    chambers    of    the 
night. 

And  now  I  saw,  within  each  radiant  beam, 
A  slender  bridge  that  led  from  out  the  night, 
From  thence  to  there, 
Across  that  seething  gulf  of  black  despair, 
Unto  the  Light. 

— Long,  wavering  bridges,  very  strait  and  slight, 
Their  swaying  lengths  upheld  with  anxious  care 
By  stalwarts  who,  in  saintly  servitude, 

[77] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION  (continued) 

With  courage  rare,  and  noble  fortitude, 
Braved  all  the  terrors  of  the  fell  black  flood, 
And  their  great  burdens  did  upbear 
'Gainst  all  vicissitude. 

And,  as  we  gazed,  my  Guide  said  heartfully, — 
"Narrow  the  Way 
That  leads  from  Dark  to  Light, — 
From  Night  to  Day; 
Nor  lacking  foes, — nor  dule,  nor  loss, 
But  that  way  is  the  only  way, — 
The  High  Way  of  the  Cross.,} 

And  many  travellers  there  were,  who  pressed 
Along  those  narrow  ways, 
In  quest  of  God's  sweet  grace. 
Backs  to  the  night,  and  faces  to  the  light, 
They  travelled  bare; 

There  was  no  room  upon  those  narrow  ways 
For  aught  save  life's  necessities. 
Some  sought  at  first  to  bring 
Their  worldly  gear,  but  soon  did  fling 
It  on  the  tide,  nor  more  regarded  it. 
Some  fell.     I  saw  them  lifted,  carried  on; 
And  some  I  saw  slip  down 
Into  the  tide  and  be  o'erwhelmed.  .  .  . 

[78] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION  (continued) 

But  ever,  those  great  saintly  servitors, 
With  courage  rare  and  noble  fortitude, 
Upheld  the  narrow  ways  against  the  flood 
And  all  vicissitude. 

Another  lattice  opened,  and  I  saw 

The  earth  spread  wide  below  me ;  and  with  awe 

I  watched  its  myriad  workers  toiling  there 

With  feverish  haste  and  all-absorbing  care, 

Each  for  himself,  with  scarce  a  thought  for  aught 

But  his  own  gain  and  holding  what  he  got. 

A  grim  ignoble  scramble  for  the  best 

That  earth  could  yield, — a  frantic  quest 

Of  wealth  and  pleasure,  and  the  lower  things, 

With  no  prevision  of  the  reckonings 

That  time  exacts  when  God's  ways  are  reversed, 

And  man,  for  his  own  gain,  sets  last  things  first. 

Life  ran  full  swift,  and  garishly,  and  hard, — 

Each  man  and  nation  ever  on  the  guard 

Against  aggression, 

Each  striving  with  his  might  to  hold  in  ward 

His  own  hard-won  possession. 

The  whole  world  worked,  as  did  the  men  of  old, 
Girt  with  their  arms,  their  safety  to  uphold, — 

[79] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION   (continued) 

Quick  to  resent  infringement  of  their  rights, 
Yet  suffering  patiently  gross  parasites 
Who  battened  on  the  first-fruits  of  their  toil 
And  found  their  own  occasion  in  turmoil. 
And  Faith  and  Hope  and  Love,  with  sorrowing 

eyes, 
In  exile  grieved  o'er  man's  disloyalties. 
A  cloud  surcharged  with  evil  overhung 
The  toilsome  earth, 
And  over  all  its  gloomy  shadow  flung. 
And  there,  in  the  shadow,  very  far  away, 
The  Cross  stood — dimmed,  and  fallen  on  decay. 
Some  still  indeed  turned  to  it  in  their  need, 
But,  for  the  most  part,  it  had  little  heed. 
For  man,  bowed  down  to  earth  beneath  his  load, 
Turned  but  a  stubborn  back  towards  his  God. 

Then — in  a  flash — like  sudden  summer  storm, — 
Earth  was  at  war,  and  every  land  aswarm 
With  legions  hurrying  to  the  fight.    The  clash 
Of  arms  resounded  everywhere.     The  crash 
And  thunder  of  it  bellowed  through  the  skies, 
Stabbed  with  the  wailing  agonies  and  cries 
Of  the  poor  victims  in  the  fiery  net, 
Writhing  in  all  the  torments  of  man's  hate. 

[80] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION   (continued) 

And  the  foul  reek  of  it  did  overshroud 
All  life  and  heaven  itself  with  its  fell  cloud. 

The  Cross  was  dim  and  very  far  away, 

Man  had  dispensed  him  of  its  gentle  sway. 

The  Sea  of  Doom,  with  its  despairing  gloom, 

Was  not  so  terrible  as  this 

Foul  Stygian  abyss, 

Aflame  with  vicious  fires  and  thund'rous  hate, 

Where  Life  its  high  estate  did  abdicate, 

And  on  its  altars  all  degenerate 

Its  Saviour  once  again  did  immolate. 

For  there  was  Death  with  yet  a  gleam  of  life, 

And  here  was  life  with  Life  in  deadly  strife. 

I  turned  in  horror  to  my  Guide : — 
"After  two  thousand  years  .  .  .  ." 
No  word  He  spoke. 
He  bowed  His  head,  and  sighed, — 
A  sigh  more  eloquent 
Than  all  the  words  e'er  spoken, 
The  sigh  of  One  whose  heart  once  broke 
O'er  man  impenitent, 
And  now  again  was  broken. 
Great  drops  of  blood  were  on  His  brow, 

[81] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION   (continued) 

His  fair  white  robe  with  blood  was  red, 
His  hands  were  bleeding  and  His  feet; 
At  this  defeat  the  old  wounds  bled, 
And  yet  .  .  . 

His  love  was  undiminished. 
Once  more  He  drank  the  bitter  cup, — 
Once  more  the  hyssop  and  the  gall; 
Yet,  in  His  agony,  His  eyes 
Were  all  majestical. 

He  turned — with  mien  inscrutable, — 
Anguish  and  expectation  strangely  blent 
With  Hope,  and  all  with  Love  omnipotent, 
And  yet  His  face  was  very  sorrowful. 
"Wouldst  thou  see  that  which  is  to  be?"  He  said. 
"Yea,  Lord!"  I  answered  eagerly. 
And  at  the  word  He  to  a  farther  lattice  led, 
And  turned  and  looked  me  through  and  through 
Before  He  opened, 

Then  flung  it  wide, 
And,  side  by  side, 

We  stood  and  gazed  upon  a  wondrous  scene, 
A  scene  of  Perfect  Peace, — an  earth  swept  clean 
Of  all  that  did  the  former  earth  demean, — 
Of  war,  warmakers,  every  smallest  thing 

[82] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION   (continued) 

That  by  its  subtle  cozening 

Kept  Life  at  odds  and  ever  on  the  jar, 

And  set  a  bar 

'Twixt  man  and  man,  and  so  'twixt  man  and  God. 

Gone  were  the  old  dishonesties,  the  lies, 

Ill-faiths,  and  lack  of  faith,  warped  sympathies, 

And  drink,  and  vice, — the  immoralities 

That  sapped  Life  at  the  fount,  and  left  it  all 

Emasculate  and  weakened  to  its  fall. 

Now,  freed  at  last  from  War,  and  War's  alarms, 

Man  walked  erect,  uncrushed  by  weight  of  arms, 

And  lived,  as  God  intended  him,  at  peace, 

To  Life's  enrichment  and  his  soul's  increase. 

Earth  smiled  and  blossomed  as  she  ne'er  had  done 

Since  out  of  chaos  her  first  state  was  won; 

And,  striving  now  in  peace  as  once  in  war, 

The  peoples  lived  full  lives  as  ne'er  before. 

Now,  in  a  clear  blue  sky  a  clear  sun  shone; 
Gone  all  the  loathsome  reek  and  smoke  that  hide 
War's  tragedies  and  infamies,  and  gone 
Each  smallest  sign  of  that  old  life  that  died 
When  last  the  world  its  Saviour  crucified. 
From  all  the  earth  a  hum  of  sweet  content 
Rose  up  to  heaven  in  ceaseless  sacrament. 

[83] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION  (continued) 

The  air  was  sweet  with  singing  birds  and  praise, — 

No  man  was  weary, — all  too  short  the  days 

For  all  the  joys  life  held, 

And  from  the  whole  wide  world  there  swelled 

Paeans  of  joy  for  Life's  redeemed  ways. 

And  there  on  high,  in  blazing  splendour  set, 

The  Cross  triumphant  stood,  with  nought  to  let 

The  wonder  and  the  glory  of  its  might, 

Nor  stay  man  of  its  respite  infinite. 

"Now  God  be  praised!"  I  cried,  with  vital  joy, 

At  sight  of  earth  on  such  benign  employ. 

But  He  spoke  not.  .  .  .  Nor  did  His  face 

Show  any  lightening  of  His  soul's  distress. 

One  yearning  look,  which  burned,   and  burned, 

and  burned, 
And  then,  reluctantly,  He  turned, 
And,  still  reluctant,  opened  wide 
Another  lattice.  .  .  . 

.  .  .  Like  a  blast  from  hell 
Came  up  the  stench  execrable, 
The  reek  and  stench  of  war  I  knew  so  well. 
Backward  I  drew  in  uttermost  amaze, 
Then  bent,  with  curdled  heart,  to  gaze,  and  gaze. 

Earth  was  at  war  again, — 
More  hatefully  at  war  than  e'er  before. 

[84] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION   (continued) 

Horror  on  horror  piled;  for  now,  no  more 
Right  fought  with  111,  Life's  true  life  to  restore, 
But  everywhere,  throughout  the  whole  wide  world, 
Kingdoms   and   empires    from   their   seats   were 

hurled, 
Nation  with  nation  fought  for  greed  of  gain, 
For  place,  for  headship, — as  of  old  fought  Cain. 
And  worse, — to  profit  by  the  mad  world-strife 
Factions  within  devoured  each  nation's  life, 
Death  and  destruction  swept  the  bare  earth  bare, 
Life  was  a  horror  of  untold  despair. 
God's  Truce  had  broken  in  the  hand  of  man, 
And  earth  once  more  lay  cursed  beneath  the  ban. 
The  very  heavens  were  hidden  by  the  reek; 
The  Cross  was  hid,  .  .  .  and  there  was  none  to 

seek. 

This  way — or  that,  I  saw  must  be 
The  outcome  of  earth's  latest  tragedy. 

"Lord — which?"  I  cried,  in  mortal  agony. 
And  He, — 

"It  rests  with  you,  and  with  your  kind. 

The  Cross  is  there; 

Who  seeks  can  find; 

Yea,  he  who  seeks  shall  of  a  surety  find  .  .  . 
[85] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION   (continued) 

But  man  is  blind, 

Is  blind  .   .  .  is  blind  .   .  .  is  blind" 


See  now,  my  brothers, — 

One  and  all 

We  met  The  Call 

With  hearts  unbreakable, 

And  bore  the  brunt 

Of  woes  unspeakable 

But — on  in  front — 

Just  on  in  front — 

Lie  depths  of  horror  and  distress, 

Foul  pits  of  utter  ugliness, 

Of  misery  and  wretchedness, 

Beyond  the  power  of  man  to  express, — 

Unless! 

Unless! — 

One  only  way  there  is  by  which  this  load 
Of  coming  ill  may  yet  be  turned  to  good,— 
One — only — way, — 

Come  back  to  God/ 
[86] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  VISION   (continued) 

No  laws,  no  cleverness,  no  statesmanship 

Of  man  can  save  the  world  and  with  new  life 

equip ; 
One  Power  alone, — Come  back  to  God, 
And  His  allegiance  own! 

Cast  out  the  evils  that  our  souls  debased! 
Cleanse  out  Life's  temple!     Sweep  it  clean  and 

chaste! 
Let  His  fair  image  be  no  more  defaced! — 
Come  back  to  God! 

God  is  not  mocked  .  .  . 

Yet  have  we  spurned  and  scorned  and  flouted  Him, 
Yea,  we  have  sorely  grieved  and  doubted  Him; — 
And  that  way  lies  sure  death. 

Come  back  to  God! 

Come  back  to  God! — 

The  only  road  by  which  the  coming  ill 

May  yet  be  turned  to  good, — 

Come  back  to  God! 
Come  back  to  God! 


[87] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


GRACE   ROBES 

If  my  sweet  thought  could  texture  take, 
And  of  its  best  your  vesture  make, 

How  fair  would  be  your  robing! 
Of  summer  cloud  and  heaven's  own  blue, 
Inwove  with  every  rainbow  hue, 
And  sprinkled  thick  with  diamond  dew; — 
That  is  the  robe  I'd  weave  for  you, 

And  fair  would  be  your  robing! 

But  you  for  your  own  self  do  weave 
Robes  nobler  than  I  can  conceive, — 

How  wondrous  fair  your  robing! 
Of  gracious  deed  and  noble  thought, 
Of  battles  for  the  fallen  fought, 
Of  hope  to  faltering  footsteps  brought, 
New  ways  to  wandering  sinners  taught; — 
All  these  your  wondrous  robes  have  wrought, 

And  fair  indeed  your  robing! 


[88] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  HIGH  CALL 

[With  a  violin-bow,  a  tuning-fork,  and  a  flame 
of  hydrogen,  a  very  beautiful  experiment  is  per- 
formed. The  passage  of  the  bow  over  the  tuning- 
fork  evokes  a  note  of  high  frequency,  the  vibra- 
tions of  which,  travelling  through  the  air,  cause 
the  flame  to  leap  responstvely  and  burn  more  bril- 
liantly,— a  symbolic  case  of  perfect  sympathy.] 

In  the  dim  dawn — 

When,  through  the  still  dark  sky, 

God's  mighty  voice  rang  out — "Let — there — 

be— Light!" 
Swift  at  the  word,  from  out  the  womb  of  night, 
Sprang  forth  the  Sun's  all  glorious  majesty, 
Blazing  with  splendour  bright. 

So  the  thrilled  flame 

Answers  the  music's  call, 

And  leaps  and  burns  with  sudden  new-born  fire; 

So  flames  the  soul,  when  Love,  the  Glorifier, 

Lifts  it  on  wings  of  joys  celestial 

To  heavens  of  high  desire. 
[89] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  HIGH  CALL  (continued) 

As  that  pure  light 
Leaps  to  the  quickening  sound, 
The  soul  chivalrous  leaps  to  heaven  aflame, 
When,  at  white  heat,  his  virgin  soul  can  claim 
That  with  her  love  his  life's  high  need  hath 
found 

Its  royal  diadem. 


[00] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


NEIGHBOURS 

For  three  long  years  we  all  have  gone, 

Close  neighbouring  with  Death. 

And  such  a  mate  were  weight  too  great 

If  we  had  walked  alone. 

But,  to  us,  in  our  low  estate, 

Came  Great-Heart  Hope,  and  True-Heart 

Faith, 
And  Love  upon  her  throne: 
And  never  will  these  three  disown 
The  simple  souls  that  cling  to  them, 
And  claim  them  as  their  own. 
For  Love,  the  Queen,  is  queen  of  all, 
And  ever  answers  every  call 
Of  every  troubled  soul. 
Her  touch  is  ecumenical; 
She  makes  the  broken  whole. 


[91] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  DAYS 

The    Days   steal   softly   through    the    Curtained 

Door, 
One  ?.t  a  time  the  Warder  lets, — no  more, 
Each  with  his  gifts  close-vailed  from  human  sight, 
And  lays  them  at  my  feet  upon  the  floor; 

Then  waits,  while  I  discover  what  he  brought, 
Great    things    and    small,    with    good    and    evil 

fraught, 
And  watches  quietly  while  I  make  play, 
For  good  or  ill, — and  all  too  oft  for  nought. 

And  while  he  waits  I  deck  him  as  I  will, 
And  whiles  it  is  well  done,  and  whiles  but  ill ; 
Nought  any  wears  but  what  my  will  has  wrought, 
And  what  I  do  is  all  unchangeable. 

Each  bears  a  scroll  and  quick  inscribes  thereon 
All  that  I  do, — the  more  I  leave  undone; 
Till,  when  Night  beckons  from  his  door,  they  pass, 
And  leave  me  for  a  little  space  alone. 

[92] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  DAYS    (continued) 

But  each,  ere  passing  through  Night's  shadowy 

door, 
Strips  off  his  robes  and  leaves  them  on  the  floor; 
Each  Day  goes  naked,  bearing  but  his  scroll, 
And  what  he  leaves  is  added  to  my  store. 

He  passes  through  the  Portal  of  the  Night, 

But  that  he  leaves  lies  ever  in  our  sight — 

God's  sight  and  mine, — and  some  is  gray,  some 

black, 
And  some,  by  God's  sweet  grace,  is  almost  white. 

So  speeds  the  great  procession  of  the  Days, 
Too  fast,  too  slow,  but  nought  its  progress  stays; 
Each  gives  me  back  that  which  I  first  have  given, 
But  what  each  takes  my  endless  future  sways. 


[93] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


FATHER-MOTHERHOOD 

O  wondrous  Father-Motherhood — 
Great  Dual  Nature! 
We  bless  Thee  that  therein  we  find, 
With  joyful  soul  and  grateful  mind, 
Thy  fullest  stature! 


[94] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


THE  KEY 

The  Cross  of  Calvary 

Was  verily  The  Key 

By  which  our  Brother  Christ 

Unlocked  The  Door 

Of  Immortality 

To  you  and  me; 

And,  passing  through  Himself  before, 

He  set  it  wide 

For  evermore, 

That  we,  by  His  grace  justified, 

And  by  His  great  love  fortified, 

Might  enter  in  all  fearlessly, 

And  dwell  for  ever  by  His  side. 

The  Cross  of  Death 
Became  the  Key  of  Life; 
So  now — this  purge  of  fiery  wrath, 
This  woful  fratricidal  strife, 
May  leave  along  The  Reaper's  path 
A  sweet  and  precious  aftermath 
Of  Hope,  born  of  a  new-born  Faith, 
Of  Life  re-born  of  Death. 
[95] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


HIS  DWELLING-PLACE 

He  loves  to  dwell 

In  the  spotless  cell 

Of  the  Little  White  House  of  Bread. 

But  dearer  still 

He  loves  to  fill 

The  soul  of  a  spotless  maid. 


196] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


I— GOD— AM! 

Evil  triumphant  everywhere, 

Thy  world  debased; 
Life's  lowest  passions,  stark  and  bare, 

Laying  Life  waste; 
What  can  our  hearts,  Lord,  but  despair, — 
"Be  still! — and  know 
That  I— GOD— AM!" 

Good  of  the  ages  in  the  fire, 

And  none  to  save ; 
Thy  world  a  world-wide  funeral  pyre, 

A  mighty  grave; 
Christ  trampled  down  into  the  mire, — 
"Be  still! — and  know 
That  I— GOD— AM!" 

Might's  ruthless  grip  upon  the  days, 

Love  beaten  prone; 
Greed  stalking  rampant  through  the  ways, 

Hope  well-nigh  gone; 
Untruth  that  all  Thy  Truth  betrays, — 
"Be  still! — and  know 
That  I— GOD— AM!" 
[97] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


I—GOD— AM!  (continued) 

Fret  not  your  souls  with  vain  despair, 

I  see  it  all. 
In  this  foul  crime  had  you  no  share? 

I  know  it  all. 
Strive  now  your  failure  to  repair! 
Both  you  and  they  who  wove  the  snare 
Must  come  to  know 
That  I—GOD— AM ! 

Know  this, — I  .  .  .  AM ! 

As  I  have  been, — I  AM — I  so  shall  be, — 

Lord  of  all  life  through  all  eternity. 

I  all  things  made.    I  all  things  know  and  see, 

And  that  I  made  I  can  at  will  unmake, 

But — for  man's  sake 

Still  hopefully  I  wait. 

Man,  that  he  might  attain  his  fullest  state, 
I  dowered  with  free-will — 
The  will  to  choose  his  way  for  good  or  ill. 
As  I  worked  out  Creation,  so  must  he 
Work  out  his  own  immortal  destiny. 
But — if  he  fail,  and  still  to  sin  doth  tend, 
Then  must  I  intervene  and  make  an  end, — 
An  end — and  a  beginning, — 
A  better  world  for  this  world  set  on  sinning. 
[98] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


DIMPSEY  ON  THE  MOOR 

Up  along,  down  along,  all  along  the  Moor, 

The  lambs  to  their  mothers  arc  calling, 

The  lorn  lambs,  the  shorn  dams,  are  crying  and 

calling, 
The  lambs  and  their  mothers  are  crying  and  call- 
ing, 
The  lambs  to  their  mothers  are  calling  .  .  .  are 
calling  .... 

Are    calling are    calling are 

calling. 

Up  aloft,  all  aloft,  all  along  the  Moor, 

The  curlews  are  flying  and  crying, 

The  curlews  are  flying  and  plaintively  crying, 

While   down  in  the  West  there  the   daylight   is 

dying, — 
Is  dying  ...  is  dying  ...  in  glories  untold 
Of  rose-lucent  amber  and  blue-green  and  gold, — 
While  the  curlews  their  vespers  are  crying; 
— Such  glories  untold  may  our  rapt  eyes  behold 
When  the  wonders  of  Heaven  through  the  Gates 

are  unrolled, 

[99] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


DIMPSEY  ON  THE  MOOR   (continued) 

And,  for  ever  earth's  trammels  and  fetters  defy- 
ing, 
We  come  to  full  living  through  dying. 

And  up  along,  down  along,  all  along  the  Moor, 
The  dimpsey  is  falling  ...  is  falling  .  .  . 
Like  God's  Holy  Spirit  the  dimpsey  is  falling, 
From  the  cope  of  the  dimpsey  the  night-dew  is 

falling, 
The  drought  and  the  dearth  of  the  day  to  allay; 
Like  a  sweet  benediction  the  night-dew  is  falling 
On  the  heat  and  the  thirst  of  the  day. 

Up  along,  down  along,  all  along  the  Moor, 

The  dimpsey  new  grace  is  revealing; 

Up  the  combes  and  the  hillsides  the  gray  ghosts 

are  stealing, 
In  the   folds  of  their  night-robes  the   lowlands 

concealing; 
The  curlews  are  wheeling  and  flying  and  crying, 
Away  in  the  West  there  the  daylight  is  dying; — 
God's  peace  all  the  Moor  in  glamour  is  empalling, 
The  lambs  and  their  mothers  have  ceased  from 

their  calling, 
And  night  like  a  blessing  is  falling  ...  is  falling, 

[100] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


DIMPSEY  ON  THE  MOOR  (continued) 

Like  a  kiss  from  God's  lips  night  is  falling  .  .  . 

is  falling, 
On  the  slumberous  face  of  the  Moor. 

God's  peace  is  enfolding  the  Moor  in  His  pure 
Benedictory  grace  and  glamour, 
And  under  His  sure  and  most  sweet  coverture 
His   creatures   lie    safe,    and    His    creatures   lie 

sure, — 
All  His  creatures  lie  safe  and  secure. 

Lord, 

We  pray  that  we  may 

All  the  ills  of  the  day 

Of  Thy  grace  be  forgiven, 

Of  Thy  mercy  he  shriven, 

And  in  Thy  good  time 

Find  Thy  heaven! 


[101] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


WHY? 

With  what  intent 

Was  this  grim  sorrow  sent? — 

What  meaning  lies  in  such  dread  sacrifice? 

Of  a  surety  it  is  meant 

To  teach  us  this, — 

That  man,  however  fallen,  still  may  rise, 

If  he  repent, 

Through  sacrifice 

To  sacrament. 

But — till  he  thereunto  attain, 

All  sacrifice  is  made  in  vain. 

Forced  sacrifice  no  virtue  wins, 

Nor  healeth  any  of  his  sins. 


[102] 


THE  FIERI?  CROSS 


NATALICIA 

["Natalicia"  and  "Natalis"  were  the  terms 
used  in  ancient  times  to  signify  and  dignify  the 
Death  Days  of  the  Martyrs,  which  their  friends 
bravely  and  hopefully  regarded  as  hut  their  Birth 
Days  into  the  Higher  Life.  And,  year  by  year, 
as  the  days  came  round,  those  dearest  to  them 
kept  as  sacred  festivals  these  anniversaries  of 
their  translation.  So  now,  amongst  ourselves,  in 
these  sad  days,  there  are  few  who  have  not  sim- 
ilar High  Birthdays  to  commemorate.  Let  us  do 
it  with  as  brave  and  hopeful  a  faith  as  did  the  men 
of  old/] 

I 

Your   Birth-Day!     Just   twelve   months   ago   it 

ended, — 
Your  bright  young  life  and  all  our  hopes  in  you; 
But  then  began  for  you  the  Vision  Splendid — 
New   life,   new   work,   new   powers, — all   things 

made  new. 

Ours  all  the  loss,  and  yours  the  well-earned  guer- 
don; 
Not  ours  to  mourn  you  in  your  high  estate. 

[103] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


NATALICIA  (continued) 

Mourn ! — at    our   loved   one's    dropping   of   his 

burden! 
Mourn ! — for  a  soul  with  Christ  emancipate ! 

Rather,  we  thank  God  for  His  generous  giving; 
Each  gracious  thing  in  you  we  call  to  mind; 
We  will  not  think  of  you  as  dead,  but  living, 
Living  for  ever  in  our  love  enshrined. 

n 

Twelve  months  ago  this  day,  you  passed 
To  that  high  place  God  willed  for  you, 
To  that  new  work  He  called  you  to, 
And  life  for  us  was  overcast. 

But  when  we  think  upon  your  joy 
We  cannot  wish  you  back  again, 
We  recognise  the  higher  gain 
To  you  in  such  divine  employ. 

Our  love  upreaches  through  the  vails 
To  grace  you  in  your  high  estate. 
As  daily  we  commemorate 
Our  joy  in  you  that  never  fails. 

We  feel  you  nearer  now  than  when, 
Still  with  us,  you  were  far  away, 

[104] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


NATALICIA  (continued) 

Nor  did  we  know  from  day  to  day 
If  we  should  see  your  face  again. 

So  now,  for  your  fine  loyalty 
Unceasing  thanks  and  praise  we  give; 
Who  dies  for  Him  shall  ever  live, 
Who  lives  for  Him  shall  never  die. 


[105] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


LIFE— AND  LIFE 

A  bubble  on  a  rain-splashed  stream,— 

Come — gone ; 

A  troubled  sleep,  a  broken  dream, — 

Soon  flown; 

A  passing  cloud,  a  fleeting  gleam, — 

Wind-blown, 

Is  man's  life  here; — 

In  terms  of  God's  eternity 

A  short  diurnity. 

But  there — 

Beyond  the  golden  vail, 

West  of  the  shining  sunset  trail, 

What  joys  are  his, — 

What  solving  of  all  mysteries, 

What  mighty  glories  of  release, 

What  wonders  of  the  soul's  increase, 

What  ecstasies  of  untold  bliss, 

Through  all  eternity  are  his ! 

'Tis  surely  meeter  far,  and  sweeter 
To  consider  these 

[106] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


LIFE—AND  LIFE   (continued) 

Than  in  despairing  mood  to  brood 
On  Life's  gray  mysteries. 
For  no  amount  of  brooding  will 
One  moment  stay  the  mighty  wheel 
Which,  God's  great  purpose  to  fulfil, 
Turns  on,  and  on,  and  on,  until — 
He  makes  an  end. 

Then,  with  clear  eyes,  we  shall  look  back 
Along  the  rough  and  tortuous  track, 
And  from  the  shining  sunset  crest 
Where  we  at  last  have  found  His  rest, 
Shall  say, — 

"We  wandered  long  and  wilfully, 
We  could  not  see,  we  would  not  see; 
But  now  we  thank  Him  gratefully, 
His  way  was  best;  His  way  was  best" 


[107] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


LIVE  CHRIST! 

Live  Christ ! — and  though  thy  way  may  be 
In  this  world's  sight  adversity, 
He  who  doth  heed  thy  every  need 
Shall  give  thy  soul  prosperity. 

Live  Christ ! — and  though  thy  path  may  be 
The  narrow  street  of  poverty, 
He  had  not  where  to  lay  His  head 
Yet  lived  in  largest  liberty. 

Live  Christ! — and  though  thy  road  may  be 

The  strait  way  of  humility, 

He  who  first  trod  that  way  of  God 

Will  clothe  thee  with  His  dignity. 

Live  Christ! — and  though  thy  life  may  be 
In  much  a  valedictory, 
The  heavy  cross  brings  seeming  loss 
But  wins  the  crown  of  victory. 

Live  Christ! — and  all  thy  life  shall  be 
A  High  Way  of  Delivery, — 

[108] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


LIVE  CHRIST!   (continued) 

A  Royal  Road  of  goodly  deeds, 
Gold-paved  with  sweetest  charity. 

Live  Christ! — and  all  thy  life  shall  be 
A  sweet  uplifting  ministry, 
A  sowing  of  the  fair  white  seeds 
That  fruit  through  all  eternity 


[109] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


BREAK  DOWN  THE  WALLS 

Break  down  the  old  dividing  walls 
Of  sect,  and  rivalry,  and  schism, 
And  heal  the  body  of  Thy  Christ 
With  anoint  of  Thy  chrism! 

Let  the  strong  wind  of  Thy  sweet  grace 
Sweep  through   Thy  cumbered  house,    and 

chase 
The  miasms  from  the  Holy  Place! 

Let  Thy  white  beam  of  light  beat  in, 
And  from  each  darkest  corner  win 
The  shadows  that  have  sheltered  sin! 

Cleanse  it  of  shibboleths  and  strife, 
End  all  the  discords  that  were  rife, 
Heal  the  old  wounds  and  give  new  life! 

Break  down  the  hedges  that  have  growr 
So  thickly  all  about  Thy  throne, 
And  clear  the  paths,  that  every  soul 
That  seeks  Thee — of  himself  alone 
May  find,  and  be  made  whole! — 
[110] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


BREAK  DOWN  THE  WALLS  (continued) 

One  church,  one  all  harmonious  voice, 
One  passion  for  Thy  High  Employs, 
One  heart  of  gold  without  alloys, 
One  striving  for  the  higher  joys, 
One  Christ,  one  Cross,  one  only  Lord, 
One  living  of  the  Living  Word. 


[HI] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


"TO  MEN  OF  GOOD-WILL— PEACE !" 

The  world  was  dark  when  the  angels  came, — 
Hail,  Mary,  and  the  new-bom  Babe! 

The  birth  of  the  New  Time  to  proclaim; — 
Hail,  Mary,  and  the  new-bom  Babe! 

"To  men  of  good-will — Peace!"    Earth's  night 
Blazed  suddenly  with  heavenly  light; — 

Hail,  Mary,  and  the  new-born  Babe! 

The  shadows  of  the  past  were  riven 
By  that  sweet  effluence  from  heaven; — 

Hail,  Mary,  and  the  new-bom  Babe! 

'Twas  in  the  depth  of  deepest  dark, 
That  came  to  fruit  this  mighty  work; — 

Hail,  Mary,  and  the  new-born  Babe! 

The  shepherds  left  their  all,  and  sped 
By  lonely  ways  to  the  lowly  shed; — 

Hail,  Mary,  and  the  new-born  Babe! 

They  did  not  wait,  nor  did  delay, 
Till  they  found  the  place  where  the  Saviour  lay;- 
Hail,  Mary,  and  the  new-born  Babe! 
•  •  •  •  • 

[112] 


THE  FIKKY  CKOSS 


"TO    MEN    OF    GOOD-WILL— PEACE!"     (con- 
tinued) 

Two  thousand  years  have  passed  since  then, — 
They  crucified  the  Christ — the  King. 

And  earth  still  bears  the  curse  of  Cain, 

And  crucifies  the  Christ — its  King. 

"To  men  of  good-will — Peace!"     Ah,  yes! 
But  who  would  peace  must  grace  possess; — 
Nor  crucify  the  Christ — their  King. 

The  earth  is  dark  and  full  of  pain; 
Shall  the  heavenly  Vision  come  again, — 

While  we  crucify  the  Christ — our  King? 

The  world  has  slipped  away  from  Him; 
Our  fealty  is  warped  and  dim; — 

We  crucify  the  Christ — the  King. 

Who  would  have  peace  must  never  cease 
To  labour  for  His  high  increase, — 

And  crucify  no  more  their  King. 

Forsaking  every  smaller  way, 
Seek  only  His  supremacy, 

And     crown     Him  .  .  .  Christ  .  .  .  the 
King! 

[113] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


WHERE  CHRIST  IS  BORN  AGAIN 

Wherever  one  repenting  soul 
Prays,  in  its  agonies  of  pain, 
By  God's  sweet  grace  to  be  made  whole, — 
There,  Christ  is  born  again. 

Wherever — bond  of  ancient  thrall — 
A  strong  soul  bursts  its  shackling  chain, 
And  upward  strains  to  meet  the  Call, — 
There,  Christ  is  horn  again. 

Wherever  vision  of  the  Light 
Disturbs  the  sleeping  souls  of  men, 
Night  trails  away  its  shadowy  flight, — 
And  Christ  is  born  again. 

Wherever  soul  in  travail  turns, 
And  climbs  the  barriers  that  constrain, 
With    steady    cheer    Hope's    sweet    lamp 
burns, — 
And  Christ  is  born  again. 

Where  one  foul  thing  is  purged  away, 
And  Life  delivered  of  one  stain, 
Love  rims  with  gold  the  coming  day, — 
And  Christ  is  born  again. 
[114] 


TIIK  FIERY  CROSS 


FAIR   RAIMENT 

O  that  my  prayers  could  raiment  you  in  splen- 
dour,— 
Heaven's  mystic  grace  soft-spun  to  golden  haze, 
Gemmed  with  the  radiant  jewels  of  the  tender 
God-given  memories  of  glad,  good  days ! 

O  that  my  love  could  clothe  you  with  the  glory 
Of  its  own  vision  of  your  loveliness, 
Fined  and  refined  with  touch  absolutory, 
Wove  and  inwove  with  eucharistic  grace! 

0  that  my  joy  could  clothe  you  with  the  wonder 
Of  its  own  joyfulness  in  that  you  are! 

What  though  our  paths  lie  as  the  poles  asunder, 

1  can  thank  God  and  worship  from  afar. 

O  that  my  hope  could  clothe  you  in  its  glowing 
All-radiant  faith  in  that  which  yet  shall  be, 
When,  with  a  gladness  beyond  mortal  knowing, 
Love  claims  its  crown  of  immortality. 


[115] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


DEMOS  IS  IN  THE  SADDLE 

Demos  is  in  the  saddle; 
Look  him  fair  and  square  in  the  face; 
He  has  padded  so  long  in  the  gutter, 
Now  he  claims  a  more  equal  place. 

And  the  sooner  we  accept  it, 
And  admit  his  right  to  be  there, 
And  treat  him  as  brother  and  equal, 
The  better  the  world  will  fare. 

The  walls  of  division  are  falling; 
Beware  how  you  prop  them  up! — 
For  Demos  is  in  the  saddle, 
And  he  carries  the  world  on  the  crup. 


[116] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


RETURN ! 
We  pray — 

"Lord  Christ,  come  down  again > 
And  dwell  with  us,  the  sons  of  men!' 

Yet  why? 

Not  for  His  coming  need  we  pray, 

Since  He  is  with  us,  night  and  day; 

Closer  than  breath,  than  life,  than  death, 

Our  Lord  is  here, — 

Is  waiting,  waiting,  sad  and  lonely, 

Waiting  ever,  waiting  only 

Till,  with  vision  clear, 

We  shall  forsake  our  devious  ways, 

And  come  in  from  the  wilderness 

To  claim  His  proffered  grace. 

See  Him — sad  and  lonely,  waiting — 
For  our  coming  only  waiting — 
While,  with  wilful  heart,  we  still 
Go  wandering  down  the  flowery  ways, 
And  seek  our  good  in  every  place 
Save  where  is  righteousness; 
And  still  elect  the  lower  part, 
[117] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


RETURN!  (continued) 

Lest  our  own  lower  selves  we  thwart 
And  make  our  pleasures  less. 

Yes, — surely  Christ  is  with  us  now 

As  truly  as  when,  long  ago, 

He  put  aside  His  high  estate, 

And  lived  man's  life  below, 

And,  dying,  left  His  proxy  meet, — 

His  fuller  Self,  His  Comfort  Sweet, — i 

His  Advocate,  the  Paraclete, 

To  make  His  Love  complete. 

Not — "God  to  man 

Return!"— 
But — "Man  to  God 

Return!"— 
Is  man's  one  need  to-day. 
O,  sons  of  men,  and  sons  of  God, 
The  Son  of  Man,  the  Son  of  God 
Stands  waiting  for  you  in  the  Way;— 
Heart,  life,  and  soul, 
He  claims  you  whole, — 
To-Day, — To-Day, — To-Day ! 

Return!    Return! 
To  Him  again, 

[118] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


RETURN1!  (continued) 

Ye  sons  of  men, 

Return! 
To    Him    Who    grace    alone    can 

give  — 
To  Him  through  Whom  alone  we 
live, — 

Return!    Return! 


[119] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


LOVE  CASTS  OUT  FEAR 

Love 

Casts  out  Fear 

Like  a  pestilent  garment, 

For  Fear  is  a  torment 

Which  worketh  sore  ferment 

In  Life's  noble  cheer. 

Bare  before  God 

Stands  the  Love  that  abideth. 

Love  at  its  best 

Stands  the  test,  undistressed, 

And  nought  hideth; 

For  Love  in  Love's  honour  confideth. 

Yea,  Love  at  the  full 
Gives  its  all, 
Nor  withholdeth 
Its  best  in  the  giving; 
And  in  its  receiving 
Takes  all  that  is  given 
As  good  gift  of  heaven. 
For  God,  The  All-Giver, 
[120] 


THE  FIERY  ('ROSS 


LOVE  CASTS  OUT  FEAR  (continued) 

Loves  Love's  greatest  giving, 
Nor  ever  withholdeth 
From  happy  receiver, 
And  happier  giver, 
The  Crown  of  Love's  all 
In  His  joys  mystical. 


[121] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


ONLY  A  STRETCHER-BEARER 

To  K.  J.  W.  of  Sydney,  N.S.W.,  and  all  his 
Fellows 

["//  I  had  a  hundred  Victoria  Crosses  to  dis- 
tribute, every  one  of  them  should  go  to  the 
str etcher-hearers " — General  Birdwood. ] 

Only  a  stretcher-bearer! 

Only ! 

But  his  life  was  high, 

And  higher  still  his  death. 

His  loyalty  and  perfect  faith 

Did  his  Great  Captain  magnify, 

And  his  high  death 

Was  more  heroical 

Than  the  most  stoical 

Of  fighting-men's; 

For,  like  the  Christ,  he  gave 

His  life  men's  lives  to  save. 

He  had  a  passion  for  life-saving, 
An  all-unquenchable  craving 
That  no  most  murderous  fire 
Could  check,  no  labours  tire. 
[122] 


THE  FIKIv'V  CROSS 


ONLY  A  STRETCHER-BEARER  (continued) 

Out  there  between  the  lines 

He  toiled  unceasingly, 

Sorting  the  living  from  the  dead, 

Nor  ever  stayed 

To  count  the  risks  that  round  him  played; 

Enough  for  him  that  broken  men  lay  there, 

Needing  his  care; 

To  succour  them,  he  for  himself 

No  thought  did  spare. 

How  many  owed  their  lives  to  him 

No  man  shall  tell. 

Over  the  top,  in  the  half-light  dim, 

Into  the  fiery  hell, 

Unsent,  he  went, 

Seeking  them  there, 

And,  to  the  depths  of  their  despair, 

Came  like  an  answered  prayer. 

Then,  when  his  own  call  came, 
He  passed,  with  heart  aflame, 
To  claim  the  full  and  meet  reward 
Of  one  who,  both  in  life  and  death, 
Had  served  his  Lord. 

[123] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


GIVER  OF  ALL  GOOD 

Thou  art  the  Giver  of  All  Good, 

Thou — Thou  alone. 

'Tis  man  himself  brings  ill. 

If  he  had  willed  to  do  Thy  will, 

He  now  had  stood  unconquerable 

Instead  of  lying  prone 

Beneath  the  grinding  heel 

Of  the  Unknown. 

Lord,  turn  us  from  our  self-wrought  ill 

And  set  us  bravely  to  fulfil 

Thy  Will  alone! 


[124] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


CAIN! 

The  mark  of  Cain  is  on  your  brow; — 
Of  your  own  will  you  set  it  there. 

The  curse  of  Cain  is  in  your  heart; — 

Your  own  will  did  beget  it  there. 

The  brand  of  Cain  is  on  your  soul; — 

Nor  can  the  world  forget  it  there. 

To   gain   your   own   vile    ends, — you   made   this 
strife; 

But  all  in  vain, — 

Peace  comes  again! 
To  suit  your  own  vile  ends, — you  murdered  Truth; 

But  all  in  vain, — 

Truth  lives  again! 
To  aid  your  own  vile  ends, — you  murdered  Life ; 

But  all  in  vain, — 

Life  lives  again! 
To  speed  your  own  vile   ends, — you  murdered 
Youth; 

But  all  in  vain, — 

Youth  lives  again! 

But  Life  shall  ne'er  clasp  hands  with  you  again, 
Until  your  soul  be  purged  of  this  foul  stain. 

[125] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


MY  TREASURE 

Treasure  I  sought 

Over  land  and  sea, 

And  dearly  I  bought 

Prosperity. 

But  nought  that  I  gained, 

On  land  or  sea, 

Brought  ever  a  lasting  good  to  me. 

Pleasure  I  sought 

Over  sea  and  land, 

And  snatched  at  life 

With  eager  hand. 

But  nought  that  I  found, 

On  land  or  sea, 

Brought  ever  a  lasting  joy  to  me. 

For  treasure  of  earth 
Is  fleeting  gain, 
And  Pleasure  is  but 
A  mask  for  pain. 
Life  asketh  more, 
And  ever  stands, 

With  outstretched  hands  by  an  open- 
ing door. 
[126] 


Til  K  FIERY  CROSS 


MY  TREASURE  (continued) 

And  then  at  last, 
My  wanderings  o'er, 
All  that  I  sought, 
And  God's  good  more, 
Lay  waiting  for  me 
At  my  own  door, — 
Yea,  more  than  I  sought  was  at  my 
door. 

He  let  me  scour 
The  world,  to  show 
His  Love  and  Power 
Must  all  bestow. 
All  mine  own  strivings 
Had  brought  me  nought; 
He  gave   me   more  than   all   I   had 
sought. 


[127] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


SALVAGE 

In  these  dread  times, 

Each  day  we  pass  unscathed 

Is  one  day  snatched  from  sorrow. 

Help  us  to  live  full-faithed, 

Nor  stoop  ourselves  to  borrow 

From  a  possible  to-morrow 

That  which  may  never  be; 

But,  if  it  be, 

Is  still  ordained  of  Thee,  that  we 

May  learn  to  rise 

Through  sacrifice 

To  nobler  ministry. 


[128] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


SO  LITTLE  AND  SO  MUCH 

Tn  that  I  have  so  greatly  failed  Thee,  Lord, 

Have  grace! 

And  in  Thy  outer  courts  deny  me  not 

A  place! 

So  little  of  fair  work  for  Thee  have  I 
To  show; 

So  much  of  what  I  might  have  done,  I  did 
Not  do. 

Yet  Thou  hast  seen  in  me  at  times  the  will 
For  good, 

Although  so  oft  I  did  not  do  all  that 
I  would. 

Thou  knowest  me  through  and  through,  and  yet 

Thou  canst 
Forgive. 

Only  in  hope  of  Thy  redeeming  grace 
I  live. 


[129] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


SOME  LITTLE  WHILES 

But  a  little  while 

And  I  was  not  here; 
But  a  little  while 

And  I  no  more  am  here; 
So,  for  the  little  while 

That  I  am  here, — 
Help  me,  O  Lord, 
In  true  accord 
With  Thee  to  live, 
That  so  I  may 
Upon  that  day 
Fair  reckoning  give, 
And  joyfully 
Receive  from  Thee 
The  crown  of  immortality. 


[130] 


TIIK   FIVMV  CKOSS 


LIFE  AND  DEATH 

Death  preys  on  Life, 
And  Life  on  Death  doth  live. 
For  without  death 
No  creature  that  draws  breath 
Could  live. 

Strange  paradox,   and  thought  provo- 
cative, 
That  Life  must  live  by  death, — 
That  without  death 
Life  cannot  live, — 
That  Christ  Himself, 
The  Lord  of  Life, 
His  life  did  give 
That  we  might  live. 


[131] 


THE  FIERY  CROSS 


BENEDICTION 

May  the  Grace  of  Christ  enfold  you, 

Now  and  evermore! 

May  the  Love  of  God  uphold  you, 

Now  and  evermore! 

May  the  Holy  Spirit  hold  you 

In  communion,  close  and  sweet, 

With  Himself,  the  Paraclete, 

Now  and  evermore! 

May  the  Three  in  One  withhold  you 
From  each  smallest  thing  unmeet, 
From  all  sorrow  of  defeat, 
Crown  you  with  Their  joy  complete, 

Now  and  evermore! 

May  They  gift  you  helpfulness 
To  your  fellows  in  distress, 
And  the  greatness  to  possess 
Your  high  soul  in  joyfulness; 
So,  in  all  things,  may  They  bless 

You  for  evermore! 

[132] 


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